Inflatable tent



Jan. 14, 1958 E. D. BARKER INFLATABLE TENT Filed sept. 16, 1952 UniteFLATABLE TENT Edward D. Barker, New Carlisle, Ghia, assigner to AviatorsClothing Company, Inc., Beacon, N. Y., a corpora.- tion of New York Theinvention described herein may be manufactured and usedy by or for theGovernment for governmental purposes without payment to me of anyroyalty thereon.

This invention relates to a pneumatic shelter and in par ticular to atent wherein the tent is of double walled con struction and the wall anddoor is capable of being inated.

Semi-rigid portable shelters have been developed in the past but theyare generally heavy, bulky, and constructed of aluminum or plywood andthey have also used insulating materialssuch as liber. glass, rock wool,cork and balsa. A need for an emergency shelter for use in the Arcticregions was recognized by the inventor. By the use f new materials andtechniques he has constructed a light weight, easily inilatable,emergency shelter.

It is therefore an. object of this invention to provide a pneumaticshelter of double wall construction which requires no internal bracing,offers good insulation, can be heated easily and which offers a minimumresistance to the wind.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an emergency shelterwhich is simple to erect and is of light weight and can be folded. intoa compact bundle for air transport.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a pneumaticshelter which is of suicient height to permit reasonable camp movementtherein and enables the` occupants to stand while dressing orundressing.

It is a further object of this invention to provide apneumatic shelterwhich is international orange in color on the outside for visibility toaid search and rescueaircraft in the location of the survivors.

It is a further object to provid-e an emergency shelter which is akedwith aluminumon the inside to reect the heat from a stove and forreducing the heat loss due to radiation.

Another further object of thisinvention is to provide a pneumaticshelter which utilizes the air between the double walls for insulationand support purposes.

These and other objects will become moreapparent when read in the lightof the accompanying drawings and specification wherein similar partshave like numbers and wherein:

Fig. l is a view showing the general outside -construction of the tent.

Fig. 2 is a cut away view showing theindividual' seg` ments and oorofthe tent in assembled relation.Y

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view of one ofthe segments showing theconstruction of the double wall of the tent.

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view showing the; manifold and valveconnection.

Referring to the drawings, generally designates a pneumatic shelter usedfor emergency purposesy in the Arctic region. The shelter is comprisedof a door: 12, and segments 14 and 16 which are generally easilyfoldable and occupyfa smallamount of space-when not inated.

States Patent r. a n.

2V Although two segments areshown, the tent maycomprise many segments.Each segment and door is comprised of a, double wall construction havingfabric layers 18 and 20 as shown in Fig. 3. Thel fabricy layers are heldtogetherr in spaced relationt when inilated, by a number of crossthreads22 at right angles` to the fabric which, arewoven' into the fabric asthe layers are. woven. The number of threads per square inch and theirlength can becontrolled'.- Edges of the floor and each of the sides ofthe segmentsv are adapted to be joined by cementingf the segments andthe door together and then covering the outsideareas and edges by anairtight process to form a sealed tent. The door and each segment byvirtueofits doublefwall construction form individual air bags. The.walls of the segments, floor, and` doors are inated separately in thevpreferred embodiment of the invention. However, theV ination of thesegments, floors and. doors can be performed from a single source at thesame time instead of iniiating them separately. The bottom of the wallor segments is provided with a main manifold 19 which is furtherprovided withA a main valve 21., whichvalve extends from both the insideand outside of the tent so that the. erection of the tent can becompleted either from Within or outside of the tent. The manit`old'19vis connected to the individual segments by` jumper valves 23 so that theindividual panels may be opened when inflated and individually lockedott after the shelter is erected by clos-- ing their valves to themanifold. The walls of the tent are further provided with windows 24 and26 and doorsz 27 and 28 which are inflatable and arehinged at the topso, as to swing upwardly. A valve 25 is provided in the door` and avalve 29 is provided in the doors. so as to inflate them separately.Surroundingthe outside of each door. is a permanently attachedwaterproof fabric tunnel 30. This tunnel is used for store space or as adoor in the event the doors 27 and 28 do not operate properly. Thisfabric tunnel is made of lose cloth and is attached around' thev openingof the doorways at one end and is tied down at its other end to theground by a peg-32 or the like. as shown in Fig. l. The tent isfurther'provided with han'- dles 34^and 36 for carrying the tent. Loops385 are provided at the endsof the tent and centered for guideropes (notshown) so as to tie down the tent in place to prevent. a strong wind orthe like from blowing the tent away. The oor, walls and doors of theshelter are coated with` a low temperature coating compound for sealingthe shelter, thereby making it airtight. The inside ofthe tent'isiiakedwith aluminumto reiect the heat from the stove', thereby reducingthe heat loss due to radiation.

Generally the tent is carried about in a compact pack# age andoccupiesasmall amount of space. This enables the tent to be carried asstandardeqnipment in aircraft in the event of' an emergency, or it maybe carried` by parties going on a camping trip. ln either event, whenAthel occasion arises `for its-use,rit is easily assembled byy removingthe-tent from the package and infiating it. The' inilation of the fabriclayers 18 and 20 erects the'shelterl andf serves-to insulate andsupport' it. Theination can be accomplished with bottle gas suchas CO2orthe like. No-framework is necessary to support this tent. As :eachIofthe1segments or panels become` filled" tothe desired' amount ofair'pressure, each segment or paneliisclosed fromthe other panels. Theseries of panels'prevents'the' shelter from collapsing/in thev eventr`one'v of'thepanels should spring a leak; Thetent is' so dcsignedso astobe of 'small' resistance tothewind andweatherl elements as possible:When erected,` the tentis suciently highvk to permit' reasonablemovement therein-1 to enable the' occupants to perfornr` any"dutiesnecessary"whileirtic tent. The tent islotranorange'color-iirtheeventthat the Vtent is used" by personnel' dying'inan4 aii'crattwho have beendorcedltdown; sonasA to `enable*search*partiesrto locate the survivors. Further, the tent can be increased insize by additional segments to the central portion.

The inventor has provided a very simple construction for a pneumaticshelter which is easily transported by person or .may be used asstandard equipment in aircraft -in the event of an emergency landing.

lt is apparent the specific embodiment shown above has been given by wayof illustration and not by way of limitation and that the structuresabove described are subject to wide variation and modification, as willhe readily apparent therefrom to those versed in the art, withoutdeparting from ,the scope or intent of the invention, all of whichvariations and modifications are to be considered as equivalents and beincluded within the scope of the present invention as generally dened bythe appended claims.

Whereby I claim:

l. A pneumatic device which is completely self sustaining within itselfon inflation thereof to form a shelter comprising, a flexible outerwall, a flexible inner Wall, thread elements woven into said inner walland connected to and interwoven into said outer wall and constitutingload members, means connecting said walls to form an airtight enclosurethereby, and inflation means connected therewith whereby on inflationthereof the device is self erecting to define a free standing shelter,whereupon the said load members become operative to resist deformationof said shelter by the elements to provide a shelter of uniform strengthwhich is impervious to the elements.

2. rihe structure as set forth in claim l, and the said inner wall beingaked with aluminum on the inner surface thereof to maintain the heat ortemperature established within the shelter with a minimum of heat losstherefrom to provide maximum safety to the occupants thereof in theevent of extremely cold weather.

3. A pneumatic device which is completely self sustaining within itselfon inflation thereof to form a shelter comprising, segments of fabric insealingly connected relation providing the floor and inner wall of saiddevice on inflation, segments of fabric impervious to the clements inconnected relation providing an outer wall, means connecting the innerwall and said outer wall at their perimeters to provide an airtightenclosure, threads interwoven into said inner and outer walls to formconnections integral therewith and therebetween in a closely spacedcontinuous fashion, and inilating means connected into the space betweensaid walls whereby on inflation thereof the device is completely selferecting and self sustaining, the integrally connected threads providingdeformation resistant load members to the walls on inilation to providea shelter uniformly self resistant to the elements and to loads thereonmerely by the inflation thereof.

4. The structure as set forth in claim 3, and the said inner wall offabric being flaked with aluminum on the inner surface thereof tomaintain the temperature established within the shelter on inflationthereof with a minimum of heat loss therefrom to provide maximum safetyto the occupants thereof in the event of extremely cold weather.

5. A pneumatic device which is completely self sustaining within itselfon ination thereof to form a shelter comprising, a oor section, asuperstructure section, each of said sections consisting of an outerwall and an opposed inner wall and threads interwoven integrally withand connecting to the opposed walls in a closely spaced uniform manner,means connected to the extremities of said sections and forming anairtight connection therebetween, and inating means connected to therespective sections whereby on inflation thereof the device iscompletely self erecting and self sustaining, the integral threadsproviding deformation resistant load members on ination to effect ashelter uniformly resistant tothe elements and the loads thereon merelyby inflation thereof.

6. The structurer as set forth in claim 5, and the said inner wall beingaked with aluminum on the inner surface thereof to maintain thetemperature established within the shelter on inflation thereof with aminimum of heat loss therefrom whereby to provide maximum safety to theoccupants thereof in the event of extreme weather conditions.

7. A pneumatic device which is completely self sustaining within itselfon inflation thereof to form a shelter comprising, a iloor section, aplurality of superstructure sections associated therewith, each of saidsections consisting of an. outer wall and an opposed inner wall andthreads interwoven integrally with and connecting to the opposing wallsin a closely spaced uniform manner, means respectively connected toextremities of said sections to form an airtight connectiontherebetween, an inilating section connecting said superstructuresections to form an integral part thereof and having inflating meansassociated therewith, and means connected to said inating section andselectively communicating with said superstructure sections includingmeans operable to close a particular section off from said inflatingsection whereby on inflation said device provides a self erecting, selfsustaining stable structure which is not materially affected by damageto a portion thereof.

8. The structure as set forth in claim 7, and the said inner walls beingalted with aluminum on the inner surface thereof to maintain thetemperature established within the shelter on inflation thereof wherebyto provide maximum protection to the occupants thereof in the event ofextreme weather conditions.

9. A pneumatic device which is completely self sustain-` ing withinitself on inflation thereof to form a shelter comprising, a floorsection, superstructure sections of curved contour interconnected inairtight fashion, each of said sections consisting of an outer wall andan opposed inner wall and threads interwoven integrally with andconnecting the opposing walls, means connecting said lloor section andassociated superstructure sections, and an inilating means generally andselectively connected to said respective sections whereby on inllationof the sections the device is completely self erecting and selfsustaining, the integral threads providing deformation resistant loadmembers on inflation of the sections to provide a shelter uniformly selfresistant to the elements and loads thereon.

l0. A pneumatic device which is completely self sustaining within itselfon inflation thereof to form a shelter comprising, a floor section, asuperstructure section, each of said sections consisting of an outerwall and an opposed inner wall and threads interwoven integrally withand connecting the opposing walls in a uniform manner, means connectingsaid lloor section and superstructure section in airtight relation,inflatable end closure panels providing a continuous enclosure andhaving access means therein, inilating means generally and selectivelyconnected in said sections, said inner wall having the inner surfacethereof ilaked with aluminum, and hood closure elements connected aboutsaid access means whereby on inflation thereof the device is completelyself erecting and self sustaining, the threads effecting a deformationand weather resistant shelter, the hood elements preventing a directopening to the outer elements upon opening a closure element, and thealuminum llake insuring a minimum of heat exchange providing maximumprotection to the occupants of the shelter.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 468,455Giessmann Feb. 9, 1892 627,932 Hickson June 27, 1899 1,560,114` SkogNov. 3, 1925 2,345,377 Bowen Mar. 28, 1944 2,401,252 Klimashesky May 28,1946 (Other references on following page) Harris Aug. 1, 1950Katzenmeyer et al. Apr. 8, 1952 Finlay et al. Apr. 28, 1953 Kreuzer Oct.27, 1953 Ford Nov. 3, 1953 6 Merrill Nov. 3, 1953 Phane Dec. 28, 1954FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Sept. 11, 1919 France May 18, 1931Switzerland May 16, 1934

